The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-09

CHARLESTON. S. c., Nov. Q, 1887.
Editor Press ont Banner:
SIR-I notice mn article In your paper conl-
menting on the prospectus and appeal of the
Industrial Mission School Society, In which
| he failure of three Manual Labor Schools, at
Due West, AT okesbury, and OIL the Lethe Es-
IT. Is not my intention to reply to the COM
mcnt made In the article upon u respectable
set Of gentlemen engaged in charitable ef'
| fort, but really wish Information as to the
| three schools, in order not TO let our venture
fail through similar nlsmanagemcnt.
Could some Of the older citizens of Abbe-
! VILE, then, send to me at my address, No. 10
Pitt street, Charleston, or through the col
| nmns OF your paper, in formation as TO the
reasons why those schools were abandoned?
/. 1t Is believed by myself and the Board OF
| Trustees of the Industrial Mission School So
ciety, that the manual labor of q SCI Of STU
dents, from fifteen TO twenty years OF age, on
u well conducted farm, can be made to entire
! ly pay the expenses OF their food and raj
ment, but no more. 1t cannot pay the sala-
rleS OF teachers. Now, was an attempt made
10 do more? Was there any provision made
by the charity Of 42O 600 com municantsof OF any
church for the salaries Of an able corps Of
teachers? Or were the students expected to
pay the salaries of the teachers, us we'll as
maintain themselves?
=. Was the corps OF teachers at any Time a
strong and good combination?
| g. Was there the same need for Industrial
Education, when these three schools failed, as
evidently now exists?
lIuIlluT Is IlEut. Inv
mass OF the Southern people arc Stenu1ly get
ting poorer. Is not the tendency Of much OF
our education. especially of thnt being now
bestowed OF the negro, to educate away from
the soil and the farm. and away from skilled
industry? Should an effort TO educate DacK
to the soil and the farm, and In every hrlncb
of mechanical industry essential to prosper-
~ in rural life, meet with reproach from any
quarter?
For one, believe that Industrial Education
Is the great need Of the South, especially OF
our rural Population, white and black. IL Is
very certain, too, that the world owes an I'M
mense debt 10 Industrial Education when
the ignorant are too apt to underrate ana lor-
get.
The great schools of the Bencdictine monks,
"the civilizcrs of Europe the improvcrS oil
the mechanical arts, (wtness the great cathc-
drals) the prcserverS of classical literature,
the originatorS of a skilled agriculture were
all, for thirty generations OF healthy strength
and viGor, manual labor schools; for the Ben
rdcino rule" was, "siX hours of manual Ia
bor for every student every day..
This school we propose Is TO be Il reiieious
school, and ! mention against The hlSniln-
agement of So good I: thing as manual iaoor
In school in the three eases, all unfortunaie-
ly taken from the inctficicncy ol AoDcFlhc
county. thirty generations OF brllllaht success
In five or six Thousand schools, all running III
the same time. which the charltabc can polnl
to-a glorious recnrd-ns having existed IN tne
bosom Of the churrh-ihat church when mas
ever stood forward as the friend OF inc friend
less, the comfort and the veal Of the poor.
Respectfully yours,
BENZ. II. STUART.